Intuit, the company that brought us QuickBooks and TurboTax, waged “silent war” with the web development community in mid-2009. It’s weapon: The $4.99-per-month website that could potentially dominate the marketplace, and drive the modest, independent studio out of business. (Okay, so this statement isn’t exactly their tag line, but the scenarios in their television ad are clear shots at independent studios).

The thing that gets me is that Intuit has no shame! Let’s forget, for a moment, that their $5, unbranded templates are trash, and that their claims of instant gratification on search engines are absolutely bogus. Several bloggers have already tackled that subject. In agreement with them, I’d like to offer a different perspective.

For years, Intuit’s software suite has been catered to (and patronized by) the small business community. To try and monopolize the technical sector of that community—and insult them with the “don’t-let-your-nephew-build-your-website” innuendo—is the ultimate insult. While I favor and advocate professional web development, I hardly believe that Intuit’s drag-and-drop solution constitutes as such. I found their television ad both hypocritical and cumbersome, especially given that the company has undergone sporadic reorganization, a fancy word for “job cuts,” since 2008. You can’t just elbow your way into any community and offer nothing in return! The thought that anyone would stand for such outlandishness is beyond my comprehension.

While several sources have suggested that Intuit is struggling with it’s identity, I beg to differ. Like other conglomerates, Intuit specializes in monopoly through slave labor. That is, to manufacture the “best” product at the lowest price…for the lowest price. Larger competition like GoDaddy and AT&T will hardly feel the effect. At any time, their resources will afford them to restructure and adopt a similar business model. But for John Q., the talented web developer with a string of bad luck this economic season, the future isn’t as bright. His options? Start a so-called business in a market he can’t compete in, or settle for a contract position with no benefits, stability, or opportunity for growth. My heart goes to that web design student whose post-graduation options (and odds of recouping) are slim-to-none. An educational investment upward of $50,000 is ridiculous if the market value of your product is only $5.00.

I’ve had the honor to work and attend school with many of today’s prolific web developers. I’m sure most will agree that Designers and Developers—at some point in time—share the same space. It is my hope that our creative and technical industries will stand against companies like Intuit and boycott their products, and realize there is NO JUSTIFICATION for Intuit’s insult! It’s a bully move, at best, and I think it calls for necessary action. Maybe it’s time the “freeworld” adopt some regulations. Regulations that will ensure opportunity, prevent monopoly, and prevent web development from becoming the new $5 clipart.